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facet: Main
type: Traditional
locale: en_US
title: Pedal Bike Tours
facet_type_id: 294e7360-5f37-1032-87ff-0007a6b3f590
html_text: Run by a team of Portland fanatics and passionate cyclists, Pedal Bike Tours shares their enthusiasm for the city through entertaining and accessible tours. The routes take advantage of Portland’s extensive network of bike lanes to meander through downtown, along the Willamette River, and through lush Forest Park. Each guide’s expertise comes in handy on food tours and microbrewery tours, as riders stop for bites or pints and soak up info about each of their stops. A few tours take riders beyond Rose City limits, and include van trips to explore Oregon’s coast or wine country. Pedal Bike Tours keeps tours as safe and comfortable as possible by providing helmets, locks, and lights, as well as rain jackets and jousting lances if necessary.

Title 9 in Portland has a large selection of both indoor and outdoor sporting goods and attire.
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You'll be zooming down those back country trails in no time when you pick up one of their awesome mountain bikes.
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There's something for every athlete at Li-Ning Sports USA, Portland's premier sporting goods store.
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You'll find an amazing selection of mountain bikes here, perfect for conquering the most rugged terrain.
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Groupon Guide

You’re late for work, traffic is awful, the trains are crowded, and as you wait at the bus stop praying your bus is on time, a cyclist whizzes by. Things would be so much easier if only you could bike to work. Well, why can’t you? As of 2014, just over 750,000 people in the US were commuting by bike, and the trend is still growing. Cyclists love how their daily ride to the office has become a fun, fitness-boosting experience, but is it really as easy as hopping on your bike and taking off? What do you wear? What if you smell? Let our guide ease you into the transition from grumpy commuter to happy pedaler.What kind of bike should I get?Just about any bike can be a commuter bike. What really matters is the nature of your commute. Is it hilly? Paved or unpaved? Look for a bike that can tackle your terrain with the right number of gears and the right tires (hint: your local bike shop can help). Then focus on personal comfort, price, and other needs like whether or not there’s room for a basket or saddlebags.So I just pedal the same route I drive to work, right?Not quite. There are different things to consider now that you’re cycling. When starting out, you might choose to stick to side streets and avoid traffic. But as your comfort level increases, busier roads are likely to be quicker and safer since they’re often better cared for. To help find the safest, most direct route, try using the Google Maps bike-route feature, which points out cyclist-friendly roads around town. Or get a bike map—usually for free—from your local bike shop.I’m nervous about riding alongside cars!There are plenty of safety issues to consider any time you’re on the road and just as many ways to stay safe. Wearing a helmet is a good start, but city cyclists should also ride by an important adage: bike like you’re invisible to everyone else on the road. Though you may think drivers and pedestrians can always see you, the reality is that conditions aren’t always that good. Going at it this way forces you to be more aware of your surroundings and teaches you to be as visible as possible on the road. Bonus tip: ditch the earbuds and ride assertively.How can I keep my skirt or suit looking good on the bike?By keeping it in your backpack or saddlebag instead. While almost anything can work as bike wear, if you’re riding for more than 30 minutes (or if it’s hot or your commute is strenuous) you’ll wish you hadn’t put on that cotton tee and jeans. Opt for sweat-wicking fabrics on the bike and carry along your more fashionable duds. You can even keep a buttondown safe from wrinkles by wrapping it tightly around a firm piece of cardboard and slipping it into your bag.OK, but won’t I still smell?No one gets awarded for pungence at the office. When a shower isn’t available, pack along a small towel and a supply of baby wipes. Once you get to work, you can wipe away any sweat and start the day feeling fresh. You can also hang removeable hooks under your desk, allowing your cycling gear to dry before the ride home.What else should I know?If you’re going to be riding regularly, you should know how to change a tire inner tube. Many roads are full of debris just waiting to ruin your commute. Instead of getting stranded, turn to YouTube or your local bike shop and arm yourself with some tutorials (and a spare, of course). After that, you’ll be ready to tackle any route.

Bryan Finigan, a manager at Kozy’s Cyclery in Chicago’s South Loop, has years of winter cycling under his belt. The former bike messenger is an ace at keeping cold-weather commutes smooth in the face of heavy snow and salt. We asked him to share a few of his tried and true tips for keeping your ride safe this winter.
1. Check Your Brake Pads
Brake pads get a heavier workout on wet roads, so you might want to start the winter with a fresh set. Ask the experts at your local bike shop to inspect your brake pads to determine if they’ll carry you through the winter—especially if you plan on commuting every day.
2. Consider Kevlar Tires
Kevlar offers a lot more puncture resistance on the road, especially in wintry conditions when you might not be able to see what your tires are crunching on. Finigan considers it one of the best ways to prevent having to change a flat on the side of the road in the midst of a polar vortex.
3. Get Some Extra Traction with Studded Tires
Studded tires are another great option, and one that Kozy’s mechanics swear by in winter. Some of them even come in Kevlar, so this isn’t mutually exclusive with the previous tip. The good news: you’ll only need to swap your front tire for a studded one. The less-good news: sometimes studded tires have to be custom-built or special-ordered, and by January suppliers are often out of stock. If studs sound good, make sure you snag some early in the season.
4. Consider Your Pumping Space
If you’re pumping up outdoors or in a cold garage and then storing your bike indoors, the increase in air pressure could cause a tire tube to blow. Likewise, pumping up indoors and then riding in the cold might mean your tire pressure is lower than expected and could lead to a pinch flat. Watch out for your tires’ changing reactions.
5. Say Yes to Fenders
One of the best ways to keep winter’s slushy mix off your legs and back is to install fenders on your front and back wheels. Some folks muscle through winter with just a rear fender, but having both increases the chance of arriving at your destination clean and dry.
6. Bikes Need to Shower, Too
Get corrosive salt off your bike as soon as you can by rinsing it with warm water (from the wheels and crankset level and down) and letting it dry indoors overnight. “Salt makes bike parts arthritic,” Finigan explains. “[It] makes them not want to move well.” Wipe down any other salt-crusted parts with a moist rag. Remember to re-lube your drivetrain before your next ride, and you’re ready to roll.
7. Keep Your Bike Under Wraps
Even airborne salt can destroy your bike frame and parts, so Finigan advises covering up your bike if you’re storing it in a garage or outdoors. Pick up a contractor bag from a hardware store that your whole bike can fit under and keep it covered overnight, even if you’re keeping it parked all winter long.
8. Your Bike Style Doesn’t Matter
Whether you ride an easy-to-clean fixed gear or a heavy, stable 21-speed, the best bike for winter is the one you feel most comfortable on. “The safety factor will [be greater] if riders feel confident with a set-up they’re used to,” Finigan explains. Love how your adult tricycle rides in the snow? Give it a shot.
9. Try a Bike-Sharing Program
Finigan is a big fan of Divvy, Chicago’s bike-sharing program. The bikes feature heavy frames, fat tires, built-in lights, and an affordable price ($75/year or $7/day). The best part? Zero maintenance for the rider, which makes these bikes a great choice for winter riding without the hassle. Many American cities have adopted similar programs, so check to see if there’s one in your town.
10. Ride for the Pure Joy of It
“In the winter,” Finigan says, “you get to really experience some things that you wouldn’t have experienced inside a vehicle, like the first snow. [Riding] makes us happier and makes us feel good about where we’re going and what we’re doing. And there’s something to be said about being happy.”
Read more about biking on the Groupon Guide:
A First-Timer’s Guide to Divvy Biking
How Do I Lube a Bike Chain?
Shop Groupon Goods for cycling gear:

The one thing nicer than being the only cyclist coasting down snow-calmed city streets may be encountering another winter biker. It might take the form of a nod and a balaclava-bound smile or a quick stoplight chat about weather conditions, but there’s a definite camaraderie that arises in bike lanes during the coldest months of the year.One winter-cycling advocate is Kevin Conway, a longtime member of Chicago Bike Winter. By day, this self-described “transportation pragmatist” is an attorney who commutes downtown from Wicker Park. He’s been facing Chicago’s winters atop two wheels for close to three decades simply because “it’s quicker, it’s easier, it’s more fun,” he says. “You know, I’m not doing it to save the barn swallow.”I myself have ridden through the past five or so winters, but I’ve also been known to make rookie mistakes like immobilizing my hands in three pairs of drugstore gloves rather than investing in one good pair, or wearing jeans when snow’s in the forecast. For reliable advice on dressing for winter biking conditions, I turned to Conway and rounded up some gear ideal for staying warm and dry.Look at the thermometer, then add 15.Conway said one of the biggest surprises for new winter cyclists is how warm they actually get: “If it’s 20 degrees out, once you’re riding, it feels like it’s 35. ... So all those people who are saying ‘Oh, I don’t know how you can ride a bike’ are the same people who are standing on an L platform ... in one place, and it feels brutally cold.” If it’s in the 20s or warmer, trade in the big parka or puffy jacket for a lightly lined, water-resistant shell (1). Your helmet will also help keep in warmth, so you’ll just need to protect the periphery of your head with a thin hat that covers the ears (2) and a scarf—or, ideally, a neck warmer you can pull up over your chin (3). (You might still experience a moment of brain freeze, but it will disappear sooner than you think.)Good gear isn't necessarily cycling-specific gear.“The clothes that are available have evolved” in the decades he’s been riding, Conway said, but little of his arsenal consists of clothes marketed toward cyclists. “There are so many outdoor activities that stuff that I’ll wear snowmobiling may also be stuff I can bike in—or stuff that I’ll wear cross-country skiing.” At big sporting-goods or outdoor-supply stores such as REI, make sure to wander between departments with an eye toward anything that looks warm and windproof.Spend your money on your hands and feet.On a bike, your arms and legs are moving, but your fingers and toes generally aren’t. It’s easy to protect the rest of your body with gear from your closet, thrift shops, and surplus stores for cheap, but you may want to invest in ultrawarm gloves and boots. Conway likes to wear boots made with Gore-Tex and two layers of gloves: one pair of thin liners and one heavy-duty outer layer. Try snowmobiling or ski gloves (4), cycling-specific lobster gloves that group the fingers together two by two for warmth, or even bar mitts, which are warm shells that slip over your handlebars and let your hands shift and brake freely inside them. (If you wear them with thin liners, they’re also good for impressing your friends, said Conway: “You pull your hands out of them and people will go, ‘Those are all the gloves you have?!’”)Mix high-tech and classic fabrics.If it’s wet out, you might consider slipping on some waterproof rain pants; for long rides, a moisture-wicking base layer (5) is ideal. But wool works great for socks, liner gloves, and headwear, and silk long underwear keeps you snug under street clothes. (Conway admitted he was wearing a set at his office when we spoke.) For women, a regular pair of tights will add warmth without bulk under pants, and fleece-lined tights (6) keep legs surprisingly toasty if you’re wearing a skirt. Just stay away from cotton, as it’ll soak up sweat and make for a clammy ride.Winter cycling equals regular cycling, plus a little extra maintenance and caution.“It is much easier than people think it is,” Conway said. “I would say that maybe 90% of people I’ve supported in their efforts have come back to me and said, ‘You know what? You were right, it wasn’t that hard.’” His routine doesn’t change much throughout the year—for instance, he rides the same bikes year-round, with standard 32mm tires that strike a balance between stability and speed. You’ll want to wipe off and grease your chain more often than usual and give the whole bike an occasional rinse to keep salt from corroding the parts. As for safety, common sense should do most of the work: steer clear of ice as well as spilled piles of salt, exercise your right to take the lane if plows have pushed snow into your way, and be willing to step off and walk for a moment to get around dangerous conditions such as metal-grate bridges.